Welcome!

The Department of International Studies prepares you for the increasingly complex and interconnected world of the 21st century. Whether you are passionate about human rights, media, education, the environment, or public health, when you pursue an International Studies degree at IU you will learn how to analyze these global issues through a multidisciplinary context and acquire the skills required of tomorrow’s global leaders. Additionally, you will develop deep knowledge of at least one region outside the US, and fluency in another language. An integral part of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, the department offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees as well as graduate degrees. Our students go on to meaningful careers in government, NGOs, corporations, foundations, media outlets, and policy institutes; but most importantly, emerge from our department as ethical citizens of the world.

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Featured Courses - Spring 2020

Comparative Colonialism

This course explores the phenomenon of colonialism from the early 19th century through the present day. Focusing on both particular geographic locations and on thematic similarities between colonial regimes, this course serves as an overview of major features of colonial rule and colonial societies across much of the world. Particular attention will be paid to both Africa and Eurasia (i.e. the former Russian and Soviet empires), with forays into India, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. We will also consider questions of imperial ideologies, colonial violence, sex and intimacy, the relationship between socialism and anti-imperialism, decolonization, and the nature of postcolonialism.

Global Giving and Philanthropy

Global Giving and Philanthropy introduces you to the study of U.S. global philanthropy. Students will gain an understanding of the roles played by various philanthropic actors and the impact of those actors on global challenges – from a billionaire philanthropist to a wealthiest charitable foundation to a Fortune 500 company. This course will examine the philanthropic impact on global foreign aid, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, impact investing, and future global challenges surrounding global giving and philanthropy. The class is intended to give students an understanding of the core philanthropic principles, questions, motives, and practices for international giving.

Economic Globalization in the Modern World

The benefits of economic globalization have fallen increasingly under scrutiny. While the flow of capital, the spread of technology, and integration of national markets have accelerated global economic development, globalization has also aggravated inequality, depleted non-renewable natural resources, and contributed to climate change. In this course, we will examine the political, economic, diplomatic, and cultural effects of economic globalization during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. We will explore how policymakers grapple with the challenges of the economic order in a shrinking world as well as how accelerating interdependence is felt at the local level.